Recent Developments In Reliability Based Civil Engineering

Authored by the most active scholars in their respective areas, this volume covers the most recent developments, both theoretical and applicative, in multi-disciplinary reliability evaluation areas, many of which are cutting-edge and not discussed elsewhere in book form. The broad coverage includes the latest thoughts on design for low probability and high consequence events like the failure of the World Trade Center as well as risk acceptability based on the Life Quality Index. Other chapters discuss the development of the performance-based design concept, and the generally overlooked area of the reliability evaluation of bridges and offshore structures. Since the finite element method is routinely used for structural analyses, emphasis is put on discussing reliability evaluation using finite elements including consideration of the mesh-free finite element method. Corrosion and fatigue reliability evaluation techniques are other urgent issues that are dealt with in depth. Risk-based optimization using lifecycle cost analysis is presented. Among the many additional included topics, a chapter is devoted to health assessment of existing structures, currently one of the most active research areas. Contents:Risk and Risk Perception for Low Probability, High Consequence Events in the Built Environment (R B Corotis)Socio-Economic Risk Acceptability Criteria (R Rackwitz)Reliability in Structural Performance Evaluation and Design (Y K Wen)Performance-Based Reliability Evaluation of Structure-Foundation Systems (M Chowdhury & A Haldar)Application of Probabilistic Methods in Bridge Engineering (M Ghosn)Stochastic Response of Fixed Offshore Structures (S-T Quek et al.)Application of Reliability Methods to Fatigue Analysis and Design (P H Wirsching)Probabilistic Models for Corrosion in Structural Reliability Assessment (R E Melchers)Seismic Risk Assessment of Realistic Frame Structures Using a Hybrid Reliability Method (J Huh & A Haldar)Meshfree Methods in Computational Stochastic Mechanics (S Rahman)Reliability Analysis Using Information from Experts (J Mohammadi & E Desantiago)Risk-Based Optimization of Life-Cycle Cost for Deteriorating Civil Engineering Infrastructures (R Rackwitz)Structural Health Assessment under Uncertainty (H Katkhuda & A Haldar) Readership: Undergraduates, graduates, researchers and practitioners in the field of reliability in civil, mechanical, offshore, materials, chemical and other related engineering areas. Keywords:Performance-Based Design;Low Probability High Consequence Events;Life Quality Index;Socio-economic Risk Acceptability Criteria;Reliability of Bridges;Fixed Offshore Structures;Stochastic Finite Element Analysis;Mesh-Free Finite Element Methods;Fatigue Analysis and Design;Corrosion;Structural Health Assessment;Reliability Analysis Using Information from Experts;Renewal Model in Reliability-Based Optimization;Lifecycle Cost AnalysisKey Features:Discussions on the most recent developments in multi-disciplinary risk and reliability engineering areasChapters authored by the most active scholars in the areaTopics covered are not available in other booksIncludes subjects reflecting the most recent research interests in the field

Reliability Analysis and Design for Civil Engineers is designed for beginners to understand the concepts in reliability engineering. The chapters are well planned beginning with probability and statistics. Application of probability concepts to assess the uncertainties in engineering is presented by different methods, at component level and system level. Design of structures for a specified target reliability to ensure safety and economy is presented.

Increasing demand on improving the resiliency of modern structures and infrastructure requires ever more critical and complex designs. Therefore, the need for accurate and efficient approaches to assess uncertainties in loads, geometry, material properties, manufacturing processes, and operational environments has increased significantly. Reliability-based techniques help develop more accurate initial guidance for robust design and help to identify the sources of significant uncertainty in structural systems. Reliability-Based Analysis and Design of Structures and Infrastructure presents an overview of the methods of classical reliability analysis and design most associated with structural reliability. It also introduces more modern methods and advancements, and emphasizes the most useful methods and techniques used in reliability and risk studies, while elaborating their practical applications and limitations rather than detailed derivations. Features: Provides a practical and comprehensive overview of reliability and risk analysis and design techniques. Introduces resilient and smart structures/infrastructure that will lead to more reliable and sustainable societies. Considers loss elimination, risk management and life-cycle asset management as related to infrastructure projects. Introduces probability theory, statistical methods, and reliability analysis methods. Reliability-Based Analysis and Design of Structures and Infrastructure is suitable for researchers and practicing engineers, as well as upper-level students taking related courses in structural reliability analysis and design.

Dependability and cost effectiveness are primarily seen as instruments for conducting international trade in the free market environment. These factors cannot be considered in isolation of each other. This handbook considers all aspects of performability engineering. The book provides a holistic view of the entire life cycle of activities of the product, along with the associated cost of environmental preservation at each stage, while maximizing the performance.

Structural Reliability Analysis and Prediction, Third Edition is a textbook which addresses the important issue of predicting the safety of structures at the design stage and also the safety of existing, perhaps deteriorating structures. Attention is focused on the development and definition of limit states such as serviceability and ultimate strength, the definition of failure and the various models which might be used to describe strength and loading. This book emphasises concepts and applications, built up from basic principles and avoids undue mathematical rigour. It presents an accessible and unified account of the theory and techniques for the analysis of the reliability of engineering structures using probability theory. This new edition has been updated to cover new developments and applications and a new chapter is included which covers structural optimization in the context of reliability analysis. New examples and end of chapter problems are also now included.

The primary purpose of this book is to introduce risk and reliability concept into structural design. A structure should be designed taking into account safety, reliability, and economy. Reliability is the probability of successful function, and risk is the potential for unwanted negative consequence of an event. In structural engineering, risk analysis involves the investigation of the probability of rare events. Risk analyses are typically made on the basis of information, which is subject to uncertainty. These uncertainties may be divided into inherent or natural variability. The objective of a structural design is the assurance of successful performance over the useful life of structures or engineering systems. The primary purpose of this book is to introduce risk and reliability concept into structural design. It will cover and review reliability theory and risk analysis to solve structural engineering problems. The book was formed from the easy to the difficult and complicated concepts. Content was written from the basic concepts of uncertainties, structural safety analysis, structural reliability under repeated load, and fatigue reliability. Based on the introduction of failure modes and bounds theory, structural system reliability theory is subsequently discussed. Numerical formulation and examples are provided to enhance the study efficiency of students, engineers, and researchers. This book is suitable for adoption as a textbook or a reference book in a structural reliability analysis course. Furthermore, this book also provides a theoretical foundation for better understanding of the structural safety assessment.

This book compiles and critically discusses modern engineering system degradation models and their impact on engineering decisions. In particular, the authors focus on modeling the uncertain nature of degradation considering both conceptual discussions and formal mathematical formulations. It also describes the basics concepts and the various modeling aspects of life-cycle analysis (LCA). It highlights the role of degradation in LCA and defines optimum design and operation parameters. Given the relationship between operational decisions and the performance of the system’s condition over time, maintenance models are also discussed. The concepts and models presented have applications in a large variety of engineering fields such as Civil, Environmental, Industrial, Electrical and Mechanical engineering. However, special emphasis is given to problems related to large infrastructure systems. The book is intended to be used both as a reference resource for researchers and practitioners and as an academic text for courses related to risk and reliability, infrastructure performance modeling and life-cycle assessment.